System and method for attaching a trailer to a tow vehicle

Abstract

A trailer hitch system for attaching a trailer to a tow vehicle, is disclosed having a shank attachable a trailer, the shank having a nose at a terminal end of the shank and a mid-shank extending in a substantially horizontal direction immediately adjacent to the nose, the nose and mid-shank being configured to be received in a receiver attachable to said tow vehicle. The shank also includes a vertical adjustment extending in a substantially vertical direction, a depth stop connected to the shank and configured to abut the receiver to limit a depth that the shank extends within the receiver. The mid-shank includes step reduction which decreases a cross-sectional area of the mid-shank immediately adjacent to the nose, and the nose is configured to reduce in cross-sectional area toward the terminal end of the shank. The shank also includes an alignment indicator connected to the shank, such that the alignment indicator to provide a visual indicator of the orientation of the shank.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A trailer hitch system for attaching a trailer to a tow vehicle, said trailer hitch system comprising:
 a shank attachable to said trailer, said shank having a nose at a terminal end of the shank and a mid-shank extending in a substantially horizontal direction immediately adjacent to the nose, said nose and mid-shank being configured to be received in a receiver attachable to said tow vehicle and a vertical adjustment extending in a substantially vertical direction; and 
 a depth stop connected to the shank and configured to abut said receiver to limit a depth said shank extends within said receiver; 
 wherein said mid-shank includes a step reduction having a corner which decreases a cross-sectional area of the mid-shank immediately adjacent to the nose and an alignment indicator provided on an external surface and extending along the external surface of the mid-shank in a substantially horizontal direction; 
 wherein alignment indicator is a color that is different than a color of the mid-shank; and 
 wherein the nose is configured to reduce in cross-sectional area toward the terminal end of the shank. 
 
     
     
       2. The trailer hitch system of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment indicator is substantially linear. 
     
     
       3. The trailer hitch system of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment indicator extends along a top surface of the mid-shank. 
     
     
       4. The trailer hitch system of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment indicator extends along a side surface of the mid-shank. 
     
     
       5. The trailer hitch system of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment indicator is recessed into the mid-shank. 
     
     
       6. The trailer hitch system of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment indicator is more reflective than the mid-shank. 
     
     
       7. The trailer hitch system of  claim 1 , wherein said depth stop is a collar that is adjustably coupled to the mid-shank enabling the depth stop to change position with respect to the mid-shank. 
     
     
       8. The trailer hitch system of  claim 1 , wherein the corner of the step reduction is a right-angled corner. 
     
     
       9. A trailer hitch system for attaching a trailer to a tow vehicle, said trailer hitch system comprising:
 a shank attachable to said trailer, said shank having a nose at a terminal end of the shank and a mid-shank extending in a substantially horizontal direction immediately adjacent to the nose, said nose and mid-shank being configured to be received in a receiver attachable to said tow vehicle, and a vertical adjustment extending in a substantially vertical direction; 
 a depth stop adjustably connected to the mid-shank and configured to abut said receiver, to limit a depth said shank extends within said receiver, wherein said depth stop is a collar that is adjustably coupled to the mid-shank enabling the depth stop to change position with respect to the mid-shank; and 
 wherein said mid-shank includes a step reduction having a corner which decreases a cross-sectional area of the mid-shank immediately adjacent to the nose and wherein the mid-shank includes at least two alignment indicators provided on at least two respective external surfaces of the mid-shank, each of the at least two alignment indicators extending along the mid-shank in a substantially horizontal direction, and wherein at least one of the alignment indicators is a color that is different than a color of the mid-shank. 
 
     
     
       10. The trailer hitch system of  claim 9 , wherein each of the alignment indicators are substantially linear. 
     
     
       11. The trailer hitch system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the alignment indicators extends along a top external surface of the mid-shank. 
     
     
       12. The trailer hitch system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the alignment indicators extends along a side external surface of the mid-shank. 
     
     
       13. The trailer hitch system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the alignment indicators is recessed into the external surface of the mid-shank. 
     
     
       14. The trailer hitch system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the alignment indicators is more reflective than the mid-shank. 
     
     
       15. The trailer hitch system of  claim 9 , wherein the corner of the step reduction is a right-angled corner. 
     
     
       16. A trailer hitch system for attaching a trailer to a tow vehicle, said trailer hitch system comprising:
 a shank attachable to said trailer, said shank having a nose at a terminal end of the shank and a mid-shank extending in a substantially horizontal direction immediately adjacent to the nose, said nose and mid-shank being configured to be received in a receiver attachable to said tow vehicle; 
 a depth stop connected to the shank and configured to abut said receiver to limit a depth said shank extends within said receiver; 
 wherein said mid-shank includes a step reduction having a corner which decreases a cross-sectional area of the mid-shank immediately adjacent to the nose and an alignment indicator on an external surface of the shank configured to provide a visual indicator of the orientation of the shank to a back-up camera of the tow vehicle; 
 wherein the nose is configured to reduce in cross-sectional area toward the terminal end of the shank, and wherein the alignment indicator is a color that is different than a color of the nose. 
 
     
     
       17. The trailer hitch system of  claim 16 , wherein the alignment indicator extends along a side surface of the mid-shank. 
     
     
       18. The trailer hitch system of  claim 16 , wherein the alignment indicator is more reflective than the nose. 
     
     
       19. The trailer hitch system of  claim 16 , wherein the alignment indicator is substantially linear. 
     
     
       20. The trailer hitch system of  claim 16 , wherein the corner of the step reduction is a right-angled corner. 
     
     
       21. A trailer hitch system for attaching a trailer to a tow vehicle, said trailer hitch system comprising:
 a shank attachable to said trailer, said shank having a nose at a terminal end of the shank and a mid-shank having a length and extending in a substantially horizontal direction immediately adjacent to the nose, said nose and mid-shank being configured to be received in a receiver attachable to said tow vehicle, wherein the mid-shank includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces; and 
 at least two alignment indicators, including a first alignment indicator extending along at least a portion of a top external-facing surface and at least a second alignment indicator extending along at least a portion of a side external surface of the mid-shank, each of the at least two alignment indicators extending in a substantially horizontal direction to provide a visual indicator of the orientation of the shank to a back-up camera of the tow vehicle; 
 wherein the at least two alignment indicators are a color that is different than a color of the nose. 
 
     
     
       22. The trailer hitch system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least two alignment indicators are substantially linear. 
     
     
       23. The trailer hitch system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least two alignment indicators extends along each side external surface of the mid-shank. 
     
     
       24. The trailer hitch system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least two alignment indicators are more reflective than the mid-shank. 
     
     
       25. The trailer hitch system of  claim 21 , wherein said mid-shank includes a step reduction which decreases a cross-sectional area of the mid-shank immediately adjacent to the nose. 
     
     
       26. The trailer hitch system of  claim 21 , further comprising: a depth stop connected to the shank and configured to abut said receiver to limit a depth said shank extends within said receiver.